06/03/2026
We are heartbroken at Le Ballon HQ to learn that ‘Saada’ passed away at the end of January.
Akli Saada was the proprio and figurehead of the legendary bar - L’Olympic - across the road from ’s Stade Bauer. A smiling, enthusiastic and all-round lovely man, he was the heartbeat of one of the world’s great stadium-side bars, and he welcomed a recently-homeless with open arms (and beer taps) when we moved from southern Paris to the 93.
Worried that we might not have a post-football watering hole after our cross-town move, Saada allayed our fears. He would personally keep the bar open especially for us on Wednesday nights after our sessions. Seeing as hosting 100 thirsty footballers was occasionally a bit overwhelming for a man in his seventies, we would go behind the bar and help him shift as many €4 pints as possible! He even stayed open late and celebrated into the night with us after that wonderful side (Mbappé and co.) battered City. He told us that with Red Star not playing at that year, he was just happy to have some footballers in his bar again. Delighted to have obliged, Saada.
We were privileged to have been at home in his wonderful bar with its yellowed photographs and memorabilia from the glory (and not so glorious) days of Red Star. It was a museum. A shrine. A proper mark on the cultural landscape of football, with Saada its diligent curator and custodian.
Thank you for everything, Saada. We’ll miss you.
Red Star C’est Bauer, et Bauer c’est l’Olympic.
